ACNE-A PREVIOUSLY UNRECOGNISED SIDE-EFFECT OF PUVA TREATMENT

After 6 weeks' PUV A treatment (20 treatments) for longstanding extensive psor iasis, a 37-year-old man developed an acneiformeruption on the chest and back. It consisted mainly of small. red, dome-shaped papules and a few comedones and pustules. He hadnever had acne vulgaris . had not been in contact with industrial oils and had stopped using topical corticosteroids 4 monthsearlier . PUVA treatment was started 3 or 4 times weekly with 40mg methoxsalen 2 hours before irradiation with UVA. Thetreatment dose was gradually increased by 0.5 J /cm? twice weekly from a starting dose of 2.0J/cm 2

• He continued treatment, andafter 34 treatments the psoriasis had almost completely cleared but the acneiform eruption persisted. It is probable that the hightemperature and humidity in the UVA units , plus the light itself, contributed to the development of the acneiform condition, as ii.sun-aggravated acne in some patients.Jones . C. and Bleehen , 8.S.: British Medical Journal 2: 866 (I Oct 1977)

lNPHARMA 15th October, 1977 p4